The Denver Broncos used their minicamp to sign receiver Michael Woods II along with cornerback Paul Manning.
The Denver Broncos have signed a pair of players after their rookie minicamp last weekend, with receiver Michael Woods II and Paul Manning joining the team, according to a report from Luca Evans of the Denver Post.
Woods is a veteran receiver who showed out in minicamp, and both players have backstories that represent distinctly different paths to the NFL. Woods played his college ball at SMU, Arkansas and Oklahoma , and the 26-year old receiver spent last season with the Green Bay Packers practice squad. Woods got a standard veteran deal, with terms unannounced in Evans’ report.
Manning, meanwhile, took the proverbial road less traveled. The 6’1” cornerback He went undrafted out of Division II Henderson State, and according to Evans he had to compete with dozens of Division I rookies at Broncos minicamp. Manning received a standard rookie contract, the writer added.
The moves would bring the Broncos roster to 93, although that drops to 92 given that the Broncos have an international exemption for punter Jeremy Crawshaw. That means a couple of other roster moves are coming to make sure the Broncos stay at the NFL’s offseason limit of 90.
Woods was originally selected by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round back in 2022. He caught 12 passes for 110 yards over parts of three seasons with the Browns, and he does have some recognition with the Broncos coaching staff, who may remember him from his career-best three catches for 43 yards in 2024’s 41-32 Denver win over Cleveland.
The road to a roster spot won’t be easy for either player. The Broncos already have a crowded receiver room before trading for receiver Jaylen Waddle, so his Woods opportunities will be limited. Woods will almost certainly have to earn a role on special teams to make it going forward, but the fact that he stood out in a crowded minicamp is promising.
The same applies to Manning, who will also face an uphill battle to make the squad. The Broncos have two established starters in Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss, and there’s depth behind them in the likes of Ja’Quan McMillian, who’s acquired a reputation as a playmaker.
The signing process shows how proactive the Broncos are when it comes to signing these kinds of players. Coach Sean Payton is constantly on the lookout for athletic players who have gone under the radar for one reason or another, and he’s managed to turn many of them into productive depth players and starters.